Cyber Security - The Heart of the Matter

Cyber Security is making the headlines once more, but this time it’s not just people’s personal details that are at risk – it’s their lives.

Cyber Security

Nearly half a million pacemakers are being recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order to remedy a flaw in their cyber security settings which could leave them vulnerable to a cyber attack.

While there is no suggestion of a criminal plot to tamper with these devices, it is understood that anyone with malicious intent could quickly and easily control the pacing or deplete the affected pacemakers’ batteries, putting patients’ lives at risk.

To rectify the issue, the manufacturer is releasing a firmware update, requiring the carrier to visit a healthcare provider. Whereas the chances are very low, the FDA accepts that there may be some risk of an update malfunction during the process, which could lead to loss of stored data or even functionality.

This latest case highlights the fact that any device that connects the internet or Wi-Fi is susceptible to hacking and manufacturers and users alike need to take steps to review their cybersecurity.

Chess is at the forefront of Cybersecurity. Over the past 12 months we have rolled out a company-wide Cybersecurity programme, designed to make Chess a safe place to work and a safe place to be a customer.

Following the success in-house of our Cybersecurity training, Chess is set to roll out packages to help businesses like you to protect themselves from Cybercriminals. Watch this space!